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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Belgium and the Netherlands Glass => Topic started by: Patricia on December 20, 2015, 11:13:51 PM

Title: Rimac - "maker / retailer"?
Post by: Patricia on December 20, 2015, 11:13:51 PM
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Mod: This thread has been created out of some text (copied here from a thread in the Glass Museum Cafe forum) and discussion in another thread.

Original text by David E, as part of a request for a new Dutch & Belgian forum.
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To expand upon my point: Poland, for example, has its own forum, but with only 109 posts (sorry Anik, no offence!) But a search for Maastricht reveals 107 hits. Then we have Belgium's Val St Lambert - 247 hits. So there are three glassworks with immensely long histories consigned to the wilderness known as 'Glass'. Add to these lesser-known makers such as Rimac, Braine-le-Compte, Boom, Scailmont, etc. and all the books on VSL, Leerdam, Maastricht, plus the designers Copier (an epic volume >500pp on one designer?!), Meydam, Rozendaal, etc. that I know of.

A point arose in relation to the wording "... lesser-known makers such as Rimac, ..."

The following text by Patricia, together with later posts (suitably edited for the new context) now provide a specific discussion on Rimac.
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Little correction:

Rimac was not a Dutch glass maker, only a retailer who had their wares made where it was cheapest.
First Leerdam, then Chechoslovakia and finally Belgium.
The same principle applied for their pottery.
Most of their stuff was after their own design though.

Patricia
Title: Re: Rimac - "maker / retailer"?
Post by: David E on December 21, 2015, 09:06:41 AM
Yes, I know that dear, you have told me enough times. ;D 

But the glass 'originated' from Holland and was designed there irrespective of where it was made and similarities can be drawn from other distributors that gained prominence having glassware made for them. Rimac is an important part of the Dutch glassmaking history IMHO.

Jay, I would never consider that Dutch glass is second-rate. [Mod: the comment was in relation to a statement by Jay in a thread: "Dutch & Belgium glass (http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,61754.msg347453.html#msg347453)".] Some of the most innovative designs came from Leerdam and the skills of the workers cannot be questioned. I have Copier Complete myself, which is a real eye-opener.
Title: Re: Rimac - "maker / retailer"?
Post by: Patricia on December 21, 2015, 09:19:07 AM
Still confusing calling Rimac a glassmaker  :).

PC
Title: Re: Rimac - "maker / retailer"?
Post by: Ivo on December 21, 2015, 10:35:15 AM
I  do not agree. Rimac was a marginal retailer and does not count as glass maker, not even as a designer.  Ordering crocus glasses from a glass factory is just not enough.


Title: Re: Rimac - "maker / retailer"?
Post by: Jay on December 21, 2015, 11:31:31 AM
Ivo,
I think that's a little disingenuous.
Rinus Machielson did (as far as I know) design several popular (and collectable) shapes for the Rimac ranges including Belle and Fancy. Even if you don't think the designs are up to much, I still don't think you can say that he wasn't a designer of glassware!
Title: Re: Rimac - "maker / retailer"?
Post by: Ivo on December 21, 2015, 11:57:10 AM
You're right I do not rate him very high. He's nowhere near the league of serious designers such as Muller, Rozendaal, Copier or Meydam.
Title: Re: Rimac - "maker / retailer"?
Post by: Jay on December 21, 2015, 12:23:27 PM
Of course, I'm not disagreeing with you there! ;-)
Title: Re: Rimac - "maker / retailer"?
Post by: David E on December 21, 2015, 12:28:13 PM
Design is very subjective, but should always be judged by, in the main, form and function. In the case of the Lotus and Belle hyacinth vases, for me both boxes can be ticked. Functional design, of course, does not always equate to beauty as they are created for a task, but I have both vases with hyacinths growing and they are extremely good for this purpose. I even think that the Belle vase is a rival for Mr. Tye's own iconic design and that Rimac should not be disregarded as a glass 'retailer' - but that term does not really describe the company properly: just my opinion.

[Mod: Last sentence above edited for David's later correction of a "problem with double negatives".]

Wished I hadn't bought the subject of Rimac up now...  ;)
Title: Re: Rimac - "maker / retailer"?
Post by: flying free on December 21, 2015, 08:34:24 PM
[Mod: Initial comment re the idea of a new forum has been removed from here and reinstated in the thread: Dutch & Belgium glass (http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,61754.msg347453.html#msg347453)]

My view is, if the glass was not made at Rimac then they are not a manufacturer.  The glass should be deemed 'retailed by Rimac, designed by Rimac, made by ....' .  It is quite an important distinction I think.  Especially if the glass was made in Czechoslovakia as Patricia mentioned.

Harrach is a major case in point.  Where confusion has been caused as to what to id the glass as (Harrach made for many makers/finishers) and it has then transpired it was made by Harrach (blank), but enamelled/decorated by .... . 
(or even made by Harrach, sold as .....  :o - although I've not yet seen any firm evidence of this as the case, I think I have seen it mooted more than once that Harrach may have made glass retailed as French I believe.  That would not make it French Glass,  just retailed in France made in Bohemia.)

Title: Re: Rimac - "maker / retailer"?
Post by: Patricia on December 21, 2015, 09:39:21 PM
As we are really getting into this, Rimac was the pulled together name of an entrepreneur who, together with his wife Corrie, was running a demand and supply business in household stuff. The man's name was Marinus Machielse, hence Rimac.

Right after WWII he peddled from shop to shop to find out what was needed and by the 1960s he had specialised in necessaties for garden and animals (think here of bowls for dogs, chicken feeders etc). The sticker on their wares showed the crest of the city of Baarn (their home town).
In 1980 son Wilco took over the business, modernised the company which nevertheless went bust in 1981. Not all Wilco's fault. East Germany had completely taken over the market, selling for prices no one could compete with.

In their heyday, crocus pots were one of their best selling articles (30 models available, selling 10.000 pots a year). Hyacinth vases were only a sideline, made in every colour imaginable as they were defenitely an 'end of day' article with what ever glass was left in the pot. Sometimes leftover stock from another factory was completely bought up as well. That's how it is possible to find one and the same hyacinth vase with a Suessmuth sticker (German glass factory selling to the German market) or a Rimac sticker (buying up stock and selling it to the Dutch market). In the Holland hyacinth vase business (sellers and buyers) we all talk about Rimac vases but we all know the story behind it.

[Mod: Initial comment re the idea of a new forum has been removed from here and reinstated in the thread: Dutch & Belgium glass]

Patricia
Title: Re: Rimac - "maker / retailer"?
Post by: flying free on December 22, 2015, 10:20:47 AM
Thanks Patricia - so RIMAC might be judged as very similar to SIA or LSA today - sold in many household wares shops with a sticker stating SIA or LSA but I believe they are a retail operation rather than a manufacturer of glass, so buy their glass in from wherever - perhaps giving their designs to manufacturers but nonetheless buying the glass in.

Oh and thank you to the committee for starting the board :)


m
Title: Re: Rimac - "maker / retailer"?
Post by: Ivo on December 22, 2015, 10:47:36 AM
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author=flying free link=topic=61754.msg347657#msg347657 date=1450779647]
Thanks Patricia - so RIMAC might be judged as very similar to SIA or LSA today - sold in many household wares shops with a sticker stating SIA or LSA but I believe they are a retail operation rather than a manufacturer of glass, so buy their glass in from wherever - perhaps giving their designs to manufacturers but nonetheless buying the glass in.

All Ikea glass is made in China.
Title: Re: Rimac - "maker / retailer"?
Post by: flying free on December 22, 2015, 10:51:54 AM
ah Ivo, thanks, but I also see SIA and LSA glass sold in small local/gift/houseware type shops here.  I don't go to IKEA so I don't know if it is sold there as well?
m
Title: Re: Rimac - "maker / retailer"?
Post by: Ivo on December 22, 2015, 01:58:40 PM
It was just to underline that Ikea is the largest retailer of Chinese glass and you will find Ikea pieces on every flea market, car boot, charity shop and even in the antique trade.  Design is done in Sweden of course. 
LSA and SIA do not have their own outlets - so you would find them in gift shops and in the TKMAXXes of this world.